FIRE union chiefs fear damaging service cuts could be revealed next week.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority leaders have warned of a “significant knock-on impact” in the light of the Welsh Assembly Government’s declaration to reduce local council funding.

Yesterday authority leaders said they would make an announcement about the effects of the funding cuts, after members meet at County Hall in Mold, on Monday.

Last night the Fire Brigades Union representatives were bracing themselves for the possibility of service cuts.

Yesterday North Wales FBU secretary John Purser said his members were waiting to see what was said on Monday.

In a statement yesterday a fire service spokeswoman signalled there could be bad news after Monday’s meeting.

However it gave no further hint what may be in store.

She said: “In the light of the Welsh Assembly’s recent announcement on reduced funding for local authorities, it is expected that the authority will react to these financial pressures with decisions which will have an effect on certain aspects of the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service.”

Mr Purser said firefighters were already seriously stretched across the region with a large proportion of retained personnel.

He said: “They haven’t informed me of any announcement.

“I know they had a meeting behind closed doors on Tuesday evening about the brigade.

“What the outcome of the meeting was I don’t know.

“They tried to make cuts to firefighters earlier in the year which we opposed and got rejected.

“But it has been pointed out that we do have more senior officers than our sister brigades. We would be concerned if they are looking at getting rid of posts.

Asked if any job cuts would be resisted he said: “It all depends on what they say and where they are going to make the cuts. But that is the fear.”

Currently NWFRS has 300 full time workers, including control staff, and 600-700 retained staff.